Mtv Generating Civic Interest

CAPSULE COMMENT

July 24, 1994

They've been registered to vote and now they're getting a short course in health care reform.

That may sound like a description of your average South Florida retiree, and it probably is. But thanks to a California-based group that registered 350,000 young people to vote in the last presidential election, it also describes increasing numbers of the MTV generation.

On Tuesday, "Rock the Vote" launched a new drive, called "Rock the System."The plan calls for distribution of 1 million copies of a nonpartisan guide to health care reform, and promotion of the guide through public service spots starring such nontraditional spokespeople as Michael D of the Beastie Boys.

And what's behind it all? A pretty good objective:

"We're not saying just `go vote because it's cool.' We want people to be informed, active citizens," said a spokesman for the group.